Saturday July 31, 2004
Baby Booty
We managed to keep it a surprise, just barely! The shower was a big hit today, the baby is sussed for clothing and more practical goodies (bath supplies, carrier, bibs and onesies, blankets, etc) for at least the first year. There were a few confusing moments: Ruby thought the Sophie giraffe squeak toy (a French childhood classic) might be for her, Peg thought the hat I crocheted might be for herself (see third photo---what a peanut of a head!), and just how does that baby carrier go on? (Maria, seasoned baby-pro, did the honors). The card from the Door County gang (and the phone calls!) were tear-makers, well done! Mom's knitted receiving blanket, the first completed knitting project in who knows how long, turned out gorgeous. With three blankets, a number of sweaters and countless knit underthings, the kid should survive London's winters in blessed comfort. And come spring time, that fancy-schmancy, frilly French number Aunt Peg picked out will be darling. Little Peg's only question, frequently repeated: "Will it be this big when it's born? Or this big? It won't be THIS big will it?"
I never knew how scary size 12-month clothing can be to the uninitiated.
Friday July 30, 2004
Tuesday July 27, 2004
THAT did NOT just happen....
The sun is shining. I have a fresh baguette in hand. All is well with the world. A woman, graceful and long-limbed, sun shining through her hair, is walking towards me in a gorgeous dress; the kind of dress you used to see in the movies: perfectly cut, white and fresh, a small pleated piece of old-school glamour. She looks stunning. I love the dress, it's just the kind of thing I'd cherish to wear. I'm nearly a bit enamored of this distracted, lovely woman. I stop not more than a foot from her, turn to say "What a lovely dress, Madame", because it's just one of those share the feel-good feeling days. As I open my mouth...
She reaches down and scratches herself. There's no mistaking this: a good, full, obviously satisfying scratch.
I kept walking.
Monday July 26, 2004
chauffage
The heat is back. Though, it is less oppressive than last year, with fewer plants (or elderly frenchies) suffering the consequences. Or at least that's what we like to think, that it's the heat that kills them, not us. Only had to put one out of its misery this week.
Sunday July 25, 2004
the Portland binder continues to grow fat and happy
Humorous print:The Portland Mercury, a celebration of the pint:Oregon Brewers Festival, living on the cheap:PDX DirtCheap, living to eat: The Bite of Portland, where to drink:Bar Fly, where to get vegan doughnuts:Voodoo Doughnuts, a little jazz:Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, some big sausages:Otto's Sausage Kitchen, something to watch:Cinema 21, another something to read:Willamette Week and lots more, some better, some Best of Portland.
Thanks H.
Saturday July 24, 2004
Friday July 23, 2004
alterior motive?
Tourists are thick on the ground these days, with more to come in the sweltering weeks of August. In search of new digs for Mom, we're escaping, or so we hope, by train to La Spezia and Cinque Terre in the Liguria region of the Italian Riviera. Uncle Natale and I are convinced that Mom is not only looking for cheaper harbors for Tishie Mae, a relaxed atmosphere and friendlier locals but perhaps a little "amore" Italian-style as well....I can hear it now: "Ah, Patreetzia we maka beauteeeful museeca together...."
Monday July 19, 2004
meteo
After last years endless heat and searing clear sky, it's such a pleasant relief to see clouds, whipped up by cooling winds, like these.
Thursday July 15, 2004
artists hard at work....
...well, except when Dominique and I were off having coffee and smoking....
Wednesday July 14, 2004
often like what he says, just wish he would bathe
We saw Fahrenheit 9/11 last night. I didn't expect it to be so funny, nor for the soundtrack to be so cheeky. It was the least "I'm Mike Moore" of his films I've seen, and very thought-provoking, though I found it a little dragging, off-topic and unconvincing in the middle. Some of the images were disturbing---not so much for their content nor his commentary, but the fact that I've never seen them before---I had no idea (or have no memory of knowing) that the election results (I use that term loosely) had been officially (almost) objected to by so many house members without a single senators support, for example. Where was that story? The sold-out theater was heavily french (it was subtitled and did, afterall, win Cannes' Palme d'Or), and I was again surprised to see so many elderly ladies in attendence. The applause at the ending wasn't surprising....wish they still did that on international flights.
Tuesday July 13, 2004
bottom's up (almost)
We took the train over to Menton to visit Aunt Peg and Uncle Natale on Sunday. Bert sailed over, or so he intended. As he said last night: "An ill-advised trip."
He never made it to Menton. Forced to anchor in a small harbor only five miles down the road from his destination, he waited out the big seas. "Meringue waves" he called them. While Bert was being tossed like a salad, we enjoyed a great big lunch and alot of family yak-yak-yak on the terrace.
Natale was very concerned about Bert's well-being----"Does he have food on the boat?" (pained expression---the horror of being without a proper meal!). No worries, there's always soup and crackers. Bert's tough.
He made it back to Antibes safe and sound, though a little ruffled. I love his description of fighting bigger and bigger waves in little Tishie Mae: "The Incredible Shrinking Boat".
Monday July 12, 2004
....and some say it isn't real work....
I'm exhausted, brain-fried, beat, bushed and battered. Oh, and happy. I've survived another week at Maison des Arts with my desire to 'paint better someday' intact. I believe I've made a satisfactory amount of progress this year, I'm especially pleased with my figurative work (which of course, is not a hot seller like the boats--damn boats!), but the more I work the more I feel I've got another decade to go before I'm able to reproduce on canvas what is in my mind. Well, that decade will pass whether I'm painting or not, so I'll just have to keep at it. I'll have photos posted in a few days.
Friday July 09, 2004
Thursday July 08, 2004
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum
They were huge. Well over six feet tall, and nearly as wide. Giants of the species: 'Obnoxious-Americanus-Onvacationus'. Draped in matching, yes matching, red floral oversized-print shirts and squeaking about in shocking-new-white sneakers, tree-trunk legs bare, there they were. Right in front of me, emerging from the museum's permanent collection, waddling in our direction. I had heard the tell tale voice first--from the male, booming like he was on stage--"I've been here so long I can understand French!" (he was listening to English--ha, ha, never heard that one before).
To be honest, I don't clearly recall the remainder of his attempts at witty conversation...I was too busy dodging, climbing observatory stairs I never intended to venture up (veritgo)...anywhere, anything to escape...
My classmates and museum going companions had a good chuckle---seems they could read my thoughts all over my face: "This is why I have to say I'm Canadian!"
Sunday July 04, 2004
Happy Fourth of July!
BBQ on Tishie Mae for the holiday---we managed to find some sort of sausages that resembled bratwurst..and they tasted pretty good too...Ruby certainly approved!
Friday July 02, 2004
Yeah!
Savannah, 1999/ New York City, 2002......coming soon to this space, "Antibes, 2004"....
Mike is coming! Mike is coming! I'm so thrilled--- gorgeous, funny, lovely-in-everyway Mike is coming for a visit in mid-August--just in the nick of time while I'm still here! I better catch up on my sleep...Mike likes to have a good time. (and no, not what you're thinking.)
